00:00Okay, I wanted to hit the Rams,
00:03and the reason why I wanted to hit what they didn't do is
00:07I just had a question for you.
00:09Where do you see this Rams team right now?
00:12Do you seriously believe that with all the injuries that they've had
00:16that they are still a contender in the NFC?
00:20And remember, this is the NFC with four teams from the NFC North at five wins.
00:27That's a really good question.
00:28I guess to answer that question, well, let me also,
00:32let me ask you a question first before I answer your question.
00:34I know that's not the way this normally goes, but I saw a rumor,
00:38and I was going to say something to you about it,
00:41but I didn't want you to completely destroy the text chat.
00:45When I saw that they were saying that Matthew Stafford
00:49was possibly going to Minnesota,
00:52at that point, I kind of put my phone down
00:55because I'm like, now it's getting silly.
00:57This is sillyville.
00:59Did you hear anything about this?
01:01So I know that that was around where it was like,
01:05if the Vikings were to offer like a godfather offer to the Rams
01:09for Matthew Stafford, that I think they would at least listen.
01:14Because let's just put it this way, John.
01:17If you had Devontae and Puka, and let's just say you're still five and four,
01:22and you had your full offense healthy,
01:24they wouldn't even be entertaining any calls.
01:27They would just be like, we're good.
01:29We got our guys.
01:30We're healthy.
01:31We know what we have for this upcoming stretch into the bye week.
01:35We're healthy.
01:36We're good.
01:37But as you start to understand that,
01:40Puka is basically their whole wide receiver core.
01:42Like, everything runs through him.
01:44He has turf toe, an MCL, LPCL, all this different stuff with his knee.
01:49So he's not going to be...
01:51All the L's.
01:51He got all the L's in his knee.
01:52Right, and by the time that he comes back,
01:54I mean, you got to think,
01:55if Matthew Stafford targets him all the time,
01:57and he's not going to come back for another four weeks,
01:59you're probably going to be out of it by that time anyways.
02:01And then you have Devontae Adams.
02:02We don't know what his timetable is for a turn.
02:04They said he's on track before Thanksgiving,
02:06but I highly doubt that.
02:08So now there's a lot of flux,
02:09and that's where the doubt started to creep in.
02:12So again, I don't know if the Rams seriously considered it,
02:15but I know that at least teams were thinking of this.
02:19And if you're the Rams, would you...
02:21Like, if the Vikings went to you, John,
02:23and they said, hey, Les Snead,
02:24we'll give you two really good first-round picks
02:27for Matthew Stafford,
02:28maybe we'll throw in like a seventh or something.
02:31Would you say yes?
02:32Within this season, where they're at right now.
02:35For two firsts, maybe.
02:38See, you have to at least think about it then.
02:41Maybe, because where you are in the season
02:43with the injuries you've had, it's a maybe.
02:46But then I think back and I'll go,
02:48I've been through way too many wars with this guy.
02:50Do I believe the reigning MVP
02:54can put what we have on his back?
02:58The answer to that question is yes, Grant.
03:01Here's why I think they still have an opportunity.
03:04The entire NFC North is two ways above 500.
03:08That's not going to last.
03:10So that bubble's going to pop on somebody,
03:12whether it be the team at the top
03:13or whether it be the team at the bottom
03:15or somewhere in between.
03:16One of those bubbles are going to pop.
03:18And when it does, I think the Rams will be right there.
03:22Because here's what I think.
03:23And I have to die on this hill.
03:26I believe with Myles Garrett coming back,
03:29this defense has a chance to save the season.
03:33As bad as things have gone,
03:35it's interesting that we spend a lot of time
03:37talking about the Rams and the 49ers.
03:40When in actuality, if you think about it,
03:43that trip to Australia was an indication
03:45of how both the team's seasons would go
03:47once they left it.
03:49It's true.
03:49The 49ers used the trip as a way to come together,
03:54coalesce, and take on the season
03:56after everything they had happened to them
03:58in the offseason.
03:59The Rams kept it like a business trip
04:01and we're just doing business.
04:03And business was not kind to them.
04:06And neither has the season been.
04:08But you still have an opportunity to rectify that.
04:12If Myles Garrett can be healthy
04:14for the remainder of the season,
04:15if the defensive side of the ball
04:17can go back to being the scary monster,
04:20the Godzilla we thought they could be,
04:22you could absolutely save this season.
04:24On sacks alone, you could save the season.
04:27I think Sean McVay will find a way to score.
04:29I think Matthew Stafford will find a way
04:32to find a rhythm with what they have.
04:34But look at what the receiving core is, John.
04:37Can you win with that receiving core?
04:39Going into probably the toughest part of their season,
04:41I think they have the highest strength of schedule left.
04:45They're going to be playing a tough schedule
04:47with basically Kanata Mumpfield,
04:50CJ Daniels, and Xavier Smith as your receiving core.
04:54But again, if the defense can create turnovers,
04:58if the defense can keep the score low,
05:00keep it low scoring,
05:01I still believe Sean McVay is the best coach in the NFL.
05:05He's about to earn that big fat paycheck he gets.
05:08Because if he can stop pouting
05:11and show up to the press room on time
05:13and figure this out,
05:18the crown will reign supreme, man.
05:21It will.
05:21I honestly believe that.
05:23I really do.
05:24I think this is going to be a defensive,
05:25if it happens,
05:27this will be a defensive effort
05:29like we all predicted it would be
05:31at the start of the season in Australia.
05:33Yeah, you know, I think there is still time.
05:35It's just like they have to basically play perfect
05:38from here on out,
05:39especially with the schedule that they have.
05:41So we'll see what happens with the Rams.
05:42Disappointed they didn't get a receiver,
05:44but they're keeping their picks
05:45and kind of see how it goes.
05:47But you want Josh Downs?
05:48You wanted Josh Downs?
05:49I did.
05:49I did.
